I don't think you can go wrong with any of the major micro 9's on the market - it's a matter of which fits your hand best.
I am no longer a skinny guy so IWB doesn't work for me and hanging a firearm on my belt defeats the conceal factor. So, I carry in my front pocket using a Sticky holster, these work really well at reducing the print of the grip and muzzle and are sticky...the pistol comes out fast and easy, practice, practice practice.
My profession puts me in commercial buildings, often without power (dark) and sometimes in neighborhoods less than desirable. Usually I am showing prospects the property. For years I carried the Ruger LCP (380), under 9 oz. empty (6 + 1) because of its size. An incident a couple years ago (very scary...pistol drawn and pointed..multiple thugs looking for a victim) got me thinking I needed more gun.
So, my 3 picks:
Ruger LCP: simply so easy to conceal, warm weather gun (.380 is still suspect even with FMJ if shooting thru jackets/heavy clothing). My experience it just runs, hundreds of ball and self defense rounds thru it with no malfunctions. This is no 25 yd shootout weapon, but more a "get off me" ear, nose & forehead device.
After the incident in the strip plaza mentioned above I picked up a 9mm, this was before the high capacity guns came out.
Ruger EC9: I'm not brand loyal, the EC9 was smaller both width and length than its competitors at that time and lighter at 17 oz. Conceals nicely in a Sticky holster and runs. I put 300 rounds of ball thru it the first day then followed with 50 self defense rounds, no failures. 7 + 1 capacity.
When Sig introduced the 365 I thought now there's a better mouse trap and sought one to shoot. My sons friend had one (1st iteration) so I invited him to come to my farm for a demo. Sweet little gun, feels good in the hand, shoots where pointed, didn't run. Consistent jammer with ball and self defense rounds. I understand the current iterations have fixed this problem.
Ruger Max 9: My son bought me this thinking at my advancing age I may need more rounds to settle a conflict (10/12 + 1), 18 oz, same size as the EC9. Tritium fiber optic front site for those times when things go bump in the night, I really like this option. My bedside gun has tritium as well, when your looking for your front site in the dark these make all the difference. I haven't run tested it yet, hoping not to have Vikings experience.
If my son had not given me the Max 9 I was going to look at the S&W Shield, Sig 365, Hellcat and the new Taurus micro. All have good to great reviews.
I am no longer a skinny guy so IWB doesn't work for me and hanging a firearm on my belt defeats the conceal factor. So, I carry in my front pocket using a Sticky holster, these work really well at reducing the print of the grip and muzzle and are sticky...the pistol comes out fast and easy, practice, practice practice.
My profession puts me in commercial buildings, often without power (dark) and sometimes in neighborhoods less than desirable. Usually I am showing prospects the property. For years I carried the Ruger LCP (380), under 9 oz. empty (6 + 1) because of its size. An incident a couple years ago (very scary...pistol drawn and pointed..multiple thugs looking for a victim) got me thinking I needed more gun.
So, my 3 picks:
Ruger LCP: simply so easy to conceal, warm weather gun (.380 is still suspect even with FMJ if shooting thru jackets/heavy clothing). My experience it just runs, hundreds of ball and self defense rounds thru it with no malfunctions. This is no 25 yd shootout weapon, but more a "get off me" ear, nose & forehead device.
After the incident in the strip plaza mentioned above I picked up a 9mm, this was before the high capacity guns came out.
Ruger EC9: I'm not brand loyal, the EC9 was smaller both width and length than its competitors at that time and lighter at 17 oz. Conceals nicely in a Sticky holster and runs. I put 300 rounds of ball thru it the first day then followed with 50 self defense rounds, no failures. 7 + 1 capacity.
When Sig introduced the 365 I thought now there's a better mouse trap and sought one to shoot. My sons friend had one (1st iteration) so I invited him to come to my farm for a demo. Sweet little gun, feels good in the hand, shoots where pointed, didn't run. Consistent jammer with ball and self defense rounds. I understand the current iterations have fixed this problem.
Ruger Max 9: My son bought me this thinking at my advancing age I may need more rounds to settle a conflict (10/12 + 1), 18 oz, same size as the EC9. Tritium fiber optic front site for those times when things go bump in the night, I really like this option. My bedside gun has tritium as well, when your looking for your front site in the dark these make all the difference. I haven't run tested it yet, hoping not to have Vikings experience.
If my son had not given me the Max 9 I was going to look at the S&W Shield, Sig 365, Hellcat and the new Taurus micro. All have good to great reviews.
13+1 is hard to beat.
